*Milton “Lil Rel” Howery and Ricco Ross are bringing laughter, heart, and a bit of holiday chaos to theaters this November in “Unexpected Christmas”, a 3 Diamonds Films release opening nationwide on November 7. The story follows the Scott family as Momma Scott (Anna Maria Horsford) tries to orchestrate the perfect holiday reunion, only for family secrets, romantic twists, and surprise guests to turn the celebration upside down. The ensemble includes Tabitha Brown, DomiNque Perry, Reagan Gomez-Preston, and others, promising a lively family affair.
When asked what drew them to the film, Howery explained, “It was the script and the story and the plot. I was offered Howie Bell, who’s in the movie, played an uncle, that’s the role I was offered. And I was like, well, who’s playing Richard? So I called Tabitha. I saw she was attached to it as an EP. Literally called her. I’m glad she picked up the phone. She was busy, probably, at the time. Like, Tab, can I ask you something? Why they ain’t offering me this?”
Ross also noted that for him, the film’s appeal began with the script. “It all starts with a script. If you’ve got a good script, at least you’ve got a good beginning. If you can cast it right and get a good director, and you have the budget to shoot it, then that’s great. You have a chance to win.” He emphasized the team effort behind the film: “All films are team efforts. It comes down to the budget, it comes down to the crew, it comes down to all that. The actors often get a lot of the attention, but it is definitely a team effort.”
The actors also spoke about how their characters navigate the holiday mayhem. Howery described Richard as someone figuring out his place: “Richard is just trying to figure out some things. He really is. This is what I love about this movie. He comes from a successful family… and he doesn’t necessarily want to lean into the lineage that’s been passed to him. So he’s trying to find his own.”
Ross highlighted how the character dynamics bring a unique representation to holiday films. “Lil Rel’s character comes from a family that’s well-to-do. He’s not necessarily trying to grab that and choke onto that. He’s trying to find his own. What does he want to do?”
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Ross believes the story’s themes resonate broadly: “Even though it’s a Black cast, it is going to resonate with anybody because Christmas is the same in a lot of houses. We have a lot more in common than we have in differences. And these subject matters are human subject matters. They are going to be touching people, no matter what your background is, because they are human issues.”
Ross’s character serves as a steady presence amid the Scott family’s holiday chaos. “He handles it like a boss. He handles it like – first of all, he has a military background. So he’s used to conflict and resolve. And so he handles it in a similar fashion. He is kind of like the rock of the family. And so many of our Black families, the father’s not there… This guy is there, and he is that rock. And so it gives the mom a shoulder to lean on. She’s not carrying all the weight by herself.”
Fans can experience the Scott family holiday chaos when “Unexpected Christmas” arrives in theaters starting November 7. The film is complemented by an official soundtrack available now on all major digital service providers, featuring tracks like October London’s title song “Unexpected Christmas,” EJ Jones’ “Cold Day,” Melanie Fiona’s “Cozy With You,” and Tamar Braxton’s “Joy To The World,” ensuring the festive spirit continues beyond the screen.
Watch our full conversation with Ricco Ross and Lil Rel via the clip below.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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